logo

53 pages 1 hour read

Monica Hesse

They Went Left

Monica HesseFiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2020

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Monica Hesse

They Went Left

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2020
Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Germany • 1940s

Publication Year

2020

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

13-17 years

Lexile Level

HL730L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

They Went Left by Monica Hesse follows 18-year-old Zofia Lederman, a Polish Jew liberated from a Nazi concentration camp, as she travels through post-war Europe in 1945 searching for her younger brother, Abek, while grappling with the trauma of her past and encountering various individuals who impact her journey. The novel addresses themes of antisemitism, displacement, and the redemptive power of love. Content includes antisemitic violence and genocide.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Emotional

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.4

15,703 ratings

85%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Monica Hesse's They Went Left has been widely praised for its poignant depiction of post-World War II recovery and deeply emotional storytelling. Readers have appreciated the well-developed characters and historical accuracy. However, some felt the pacing was uneven and certain plot points were predictable. Overall, it’s a compelling, heartfelt read marked by resilience and hope.

Who should read this

Who Should Read They Went Left?

A reader who enjoys They Went Left by Monica Hesse is often captivated by historical fiction, particularly set during or post-World War II. Fans of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr will appreciate this poignant narrative of survival and healing. Suitable for YA and adult readers seeking emotional depth and historical insight.

4.4

15,703 ratings

85%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Germany • 1940s

Publication Year

2020

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

13-17 years

Lexile Level

HL730L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.